I know that most amateur operators simply sign at the beginning or end of a message, like
The weather is good, Kz1XXY
Would it also be customary to say that in phonetic form?
Kilo zulu 1 X-ray X-ray Yankee
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$\begingroup$ Here are two articles on phonetics that provide some context: hamradioschool.com/phonetic-alphabets k0nr.com/wordpress/2018/04/… $\endgroup$ – BobW K0NR Jan 15 at 20:54
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The choice of using phonetics ('alpha, bravo, charlie, …') versus plain alphabet sounds ('aye, bee, see, …') should be, and in my limited experience usually is, made based on how likely the recipient is to need them to understand.
Here are two extreme cases:
A contact made using a FM repeater at close range, among people who already know each other, does not need to use phonetics because there is little noise on the received audio and the people already know what they'll be hearing.
On the other hand, someone calling CQ on simplex using SSB either for a contest or DXing will always use phonetics, because they're trying to call anyone they can, particularly operators at the longest possible range, and so they want to maximize understandability when the recipient hears lots of noise and has never heard this particular call sign before.
If someone is doing, say, VHF FM simplex, you might hear either one. If someone is continuing a discussion rather than making the initial contact, they might not use phonetics because they're doing it for the legally required identification rather than to communicate to the other party. And so on.
answered Jan 14 at 17:54
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In fact, hams use phonetic alphabet for their call signs (and also QTH) most of the time. The reason is simple - when you are establishing a QSO you don't know how well the other operator hears you. Maybe your signal is weak on her side, or maybe there is a QRM or QSB.
During an established QSO phonetic alphabet is used by two reasons. Firstly, you make sure that the other operator received your call sign correctly. I've been in a few situations when my suffix was recorded wrong (e.g. R2AU instead of R2AUK). Repeating your call sign is a polite way to say that it should be corrected. Secondly, all other hams may hear you as well, but you don't know how well they hear you. They may even hear only one of two hams. Repeating call signs using phonetic alphabet allows to specify who is talking and who she is talking to. Otherwise someone can think that, for instance, you are calling CQ, and intervene in the QSO.
By the way (very important!) you assumption that hams sign a message by telling a call sign is not quite correct. During the QSO hams use two call signs - the first one is who you are taling to, and the second is your call sign, always in this order. The obvious exception is when you are calling CQ.
This being said, during a long and stable QSO hams may get tired of repeating their call signs using phonetic alphabet all the time and start using regular letters, or even pronounce the call signs as if they were words.
answered Jan 14 at 20:34
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Yes, the standard phonetic alphabet is used by radio amateurs. Of course, some people use alternatives in some circumstances - but we are required to know the standard phonetic alphabet.
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2$\begingroup$ Hams conventionally use the ITU phonetic alphabet, although some (usually the older generation) use the WWII alphabet. And some operators make up phonetics that are more nmemonic, for example, I used to be wd8jkb, or (Jellybeans Kill Bacteria.) (Friends teased that it was Juvenlie Kissing Bandit, but I digress). The bottom line is to try to avoid having someone ask, "What's your call again?" $\endgroup$ – Duston Jan 14 at 15:21
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1$\begingroup$ The choice to use the phonetic alphabet instead of simply saying the numbers and letters is up to each operator. You're free to choose any method that's likely to be understood. $\endgroup$ – mrog Jan 14 at 17:23
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1$\begingroup$ In the US, 97.1119(b)(2) says, "Use of a phonetic alphabet as an aid for correct station identification is encouraged". It used to say "Use of a standard phonetic alphabet", but that was changed. You can use whatever phonetics necessary to make the ID clear. $\endgroup$ – user3486184 Jan 14 at 21:45
